COPN: Central Ohio Peace Network

A Global Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons

In August 1945, two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki instantly turned the two cities into ruins and took the lives of about 210 thousand people. Even now, more than 200,000 Hibakusha, or A-bomb survivors, are carrying with them scars. Their tragedy should not be repeated anywhere on earth.The call for the elimination of nuclear weapons is becoming ever widespread across the world. Citizens are taking actions, and many governments are endeavoring to reach this goal. The surest guarantee against there being another Hiroshima, or Nagasaki, is a total ban and the elimination of nuclear weapons.In May 2010, the 189 parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including the Nuclear weapons States, agreed “to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”. Now is the time to act to accomplish it.We call on all governments to enter negotiations without delay on a convention banning nuclear weapons.You can sign on to the petition here:http://antiatom.org/script/mailform/sigenglish/

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Events and Meetings:

Now - April 19, 2020. Columbus
International Film and Animation Festival. Our global community is currently facing
uncertainty due to COVID-19. This global pandemic has impacted all of us,
shifting our daily lives online as we shelter in place. While much has changed,
one thing remains the same - film still has the power to connect us all. The
68th annual Columbus International Film and Animation Festival will continue as
an online festival and we hope you'll join us for an outstanding selection of
features, student films, documentaries, animation and experimental film. We'll
also have online workshops, Q&A sessions and more. Buy tickets here.

Now through April 26, 2020.
Stalking Chernobyl.
The film takes a deep, first-hand look inside the strange world of
illegal Chernobyl Exclusion Zone stalkers, extreme sports adventurers, and the
tourists who flock to the radioactive Zone, including the abandoned city of
Pripyat and the surrounding Red Forest, many in denial of the health risks. You can view the film on YouTube here. The film is subtitled. Please click the
"cc" link to choose your language. If you cannot access YouTube, the
film is also available on Vimeo here.

Monday, April 20, 2020, 8:00 PM.
Virtual Town Hall - Protect Our Vote:
Defending Democracy During COVID-19. Right now, our democracy is under threat. Health experts are urging the public to stay home,
yet too many states are failing to offer options for voters to cast their
ballot in a safe and accessible way. While state governments consider
adapting their voting laws in response to the pandemic, the reality is that
states lack funds to implement and expand voting by mail and early voting. The
$400 million allocated in the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package
passed on March 27 was woefully insufficient. However, it’s projected
that it will take at least $4 billion for states to take the steps needed to
adequately protect our democracy and voter access. Fortunately, there is
scientific research that can help guide the actions needed to make sure all US
states have measures in place to ensure that people can vote safely and protect
the integrity of our democracy.

That’s
why we need you. Join the Union of Concerned Scientists and our partners with
the Declaration for American Democracy coalition on Monday, April 20 for an
informative virtual town hall on the critical voting reforms we need. RSVP
Here.

Monday, April 20, 2020, 2:00 PM.
Online Town Hall Re: Facts of COVID19, how to stay safe &
misconceptions. There
are so many #COVID19 misconceptions & rumors making it hard to know is
best. Learn the facts about COVID-19, how to stay safe and protected. Join Franklin
County Commissioner Kevin Boyce for an online town hall he is hosting with Dr.
Gray to fight those misconceptions. Monday 2 p.m. http://zoom.us/join ID 879-1138-8473, Password 963330.

Monday, April 20, 2020, 2:00 - 3:00 PM. Collective
Liberation: A Fight to #FreeThemALL. Join the Columbus Freedom Fund as we
have a conversation with special guests Mary Hooks from Southerners on New
Ground (S.O.N.G), Kenza Kamal of Juvenile Justice Coalition/Columbus Freedom
Coalition, BQIC's (Black Queer and Intersectional Collective) Dkeama Alexis and
Stacey Little of Columbus Freedom Fund, on Monday April 20th at 2pm. We will
discuss how to continue the fight to free people locked in cages during and
after these uncertain times! Register here.

Monday, April 20, 2020, 4:00 PM
National Nurses United: COVID-19
Live Q&A on Facebook Live. During the livestream, we’ll cover: A message to the public
about how you can best support nurses right now, the latest research and
science update on antibody testing, answers to questions about personal
protective equipment (PPE), and what you can do now to take action on our
latest demands.

Monday, April 20, 2020, 5:00 PM.
Columbus City Council Virtual Meeting. Columbus
City Council urges residents to submit their testimony in writing rather than
attend the meeting in person. Residents that wish to speak during the meeting
via WebEx should submit a speaker slip online. As with the regular in-person
procedure, the first three speakers for and against an ordinance who submit
time-stamped forms will be invited to speak before Council through a WebEx
invite. To access the form, visit www.columbus.gov/council/information/Online-Speaker-Slip/. Online
speaker slips can be submitted between 8am-3pm on the day of the meeting
to cityclerkrequests@columbus.gov.

During
the emergency period, non-agenda speakers must submit their testimony to the
City Clerk in writing by 3pm to the same email address. All submitted testimony
will be entered into the record. The meeting will be live-streamed on CTV,
the City’s YouTube channel and Facebook Live.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. CHEJ Training Call: Health Care for All! Now, more than ever, we need a Government
that cares for us. Every developed country provides healthcare for its
citizens, and it's about time we demand that ours does, too! The outbreak of
coronavirus has clearly exposed the gap between haves and have-nots in America,
but what can WE do about it? Join us this Tuesday at 12 Noon EST for the latest
on the Medicare for All campaign. Please RSVP for the Call-in information. Register
here.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 5:30 PM.
Clintonville Area Progressives.
In place of our usual Happy Hour, we are planning a Virtual Happy Hour
with David Leland and Alaina Shearer as our guests. If you would like to
participate by Zoom, contact clintonvilleareaprogressives@gmail.com
for more information.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 7:00 - 9:00
PM. A Virtual Screening of “Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook.” Join us for a virtual
screening of the film, "Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook." The
screening will be followed by a panel discussion. Details on how to get ready to screen the film
and join the discussion coming soon! Facebook.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 6:00 - 8:00
PM. How to Build State Political Power. The state of Ohio moves
billions of dollars and sets policies for our neighborhoods every year. How do
we leverage our power effectively at the Statehouse to improve the lives of
everyday Ohioans? We will discuss strategies, tools, and tips on how
organizations can fight for issues in the Ohio legislature, and why they
should. Come learn more about the "inside game" from an experienced
grassroots lobbyist, Nick Bates, the Policy Director for One Ohio Now. Register here.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 7:00 - 8:00
PM. Saving Half the Earth: Join us for an Earth Day Discussion. If we're going to halt the
wildlife extinction crisis, we have to protect the places where these animals
and plants live. Join the Center for
Biological Diversity for special discussion about our ambitious goal of
protecting 30% of wildlands and waters by 2030 and half of them by
2050. The presentation will include the Center's Executive Director Kierán
Suckling and Public Lands Director Randi Spivak. We're excited to bring these
weekly Saving Life on Earth webinars to wherever you are. Just because we're
almost all homebound doesn't mean we can't dive into our passion for saving
wildlife. Each week the Center will convene a small team of experts to discuss
some of the more important topics of our times.
This week's conversation will dive into the value of our public lands
and waters, the importance of thinking big, and what it'll take to ensure wild
animals and plants have long-term protection for the places they call home. Sign up here for Wednesday's conversation.

April 22-24, 2020, Earth Day Live. The youth-led 72-hour
live stream and online mobilization will aim to engage people around the
world in collective action to protect our climate and communities, and will
feature performances from artists and influencers, panels with activists who
are on the front lines of the climate crisis, trainings and teach-ins with
partners, and conversations with elected officials to keep people engaged,
informed, and inspired during this difficult time. To join Earth Day Live, you can RSVP for updates on the live stream and tune in online
on April 22. You can also participate in
the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by striking digitally with the Friday for Future Digital
Movement.

Thursday, April 23, 2020, 6:00 - 7:30
PM. Central Ohio Worker Center Immigrant
Justice Committee Virtual Meeting. Join us for our monthly Immigrant Justice
Committee business meeting! In addition,
attorney Brittnee Pankey-Qualls will present an update on how COVID-19 in the
immigrant community. This will be a zoom call, please email us for the
link/phone number at cmhammond11@att.net
or centralohioworkercenter@gmail.com. The
Immigration Justice Committee is responsible for advancing the immigrant rights
mission of the organization by proposing projects, policy statements, and
inter-organizational relationships to the board for approval, and for providing
ongoing up-to-date information about opportunities for COWC. Brittnee Pankey Qualls will do a presentation
on how COVID-19 is affecting the immigrant/refugee population in Central Ohio.

Thursday, April 23, 2020, 7:00 PM. Our Revolution Ohio Medicare for All
Roundtable. The coronavirus
pandemic is tragically illustrating why tying health care to employment is
such a bad idea, as millions of Americans are being furloughed or laid off and
losing their health care. Join us online for a Medicare for All Round Table.
Michelle Mahon from National Nurses United, Yvonka Hall from Northeast Ohio
Black Health Coalition and Dr. Matthew Noordsij-Jones from Span Ohio.
Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/267081/.

Thursday, April 23, 2020, 7:00 PM. The Movement For Black Lives: Free Them All!
Prison is no place for a pandemic. During COVID-19, prisons,
jails, and detention centers have turned into outbreak zones for incarcerated
people, and Black people represent 33% of the sentenced prison population. In
New York’s Riker’s Island prison complex, 287 incarcerated people and 406
staffers have tested positive for COVID-19, exposing the entire community to
the deadly virus for which there is no known vaccine. Although the federal
government is considering releasing people from prison, only a small percentage
of Black incarcerated people would be deemed low-risk enough to get out using
the federal prison system’s risk assessment tool. During this panel, hear
from experts about the unique life and death challenges people in prisons,
jails, and detention centers face during this unprecedented pandemic, and how
the virus will impact Black incarcerated people now and after we flatten the
curve. We will also discuss solutions for how to use this experience to
advocate for new approaches to accountability. Register here.

Thursday, April 23, 2020, 7:00 - 8:00
PM. Coronavirus and U.S. Foreign
Policy: A Conversation with Congressman Tom
Malinowski. He will be joined by guest host, Sanam
Anderlini, the Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the
London School of Economics and Political Science, for a conversation on
coronavirus and foreign policy, including the impact of Iran sanctions and
implications for human rights and peacebuilding. This is your opportunity to speak with a
leading Congressional voice on foreign policy and human rights issues at a
critical time. Register
here.

Friday, April 24, 2020, 12:00 - 3:00
PM. Rumble In The Valley Release 20k By
May. HONK
and WAVE rally on the Statehouse and the ODRC headquarters. We are asking all
directly impacted, previously incarcerated or just people down for the cause.
We are demanding real answers and the release of 20k by May. We want to be
heard and we want 40%. Of the already overpopulated by 127% population. Facebook
event here.

Sunday, April 26, 2020, 1:30 – 4:30
PM. Indivisible Ohio District 15 Annual
Meeting. Sign up for the 2020 fight. Let's support our
District 15 congressional candidate and other candidates with a committed band
of volunteers and activists ready to march in parades, host fundraisers, make
calls, canvass.... We'll have a planning
meeting very soon, so stay tuned--and PM this page even sooner if you want to
be sure you're involved! Location: Columbus Public Library, Main, 95 S. Grant
Ave., Columbus. Facebook.

Monday, April 27, 2020, 8:30 PM. LIVESTREAM - Joint Israeli-Palestinian
Memorial Ceremony. Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, is a solemn day in which
Israelis remember those who they have lost in decades of war and conflict. The
joint ceremony provides an opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to
acknowledge the loss and the pain of those living on the other side and to
together walk a path of respect, equality, freedom - and ultimately peace.APN is a co-sponsor of this event hosted
by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum. RSVP to receive
live-streaming information >.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020, 6:30 - 7:30
PM. Inhale/Exhale - Polarity with
Sharonda Crome. Inhale/Exhale is a safe space for activists and organizers to heal.
We bring in local healers to introduce no/low cost restorative healing
practices for activists and organizers in our progressive ecosystem. Join us
via Zoom to learn about Polarity with healer Sharonda Crome. For more information on polarity or Sharonda
please visit www.sharondacrome.com. Register here. Zoom
link information is provided after registration!

Thursday, April 30, 2020, 6:00 - 9:00
PM. Abolition Feminism: Celebrating 20 years of
INCITE! Join founders and
generations of leaders of INCITE! and Angela Y. Davis for a discussion of the
origins, genealogies, and futures of abolition feminism on April 30th, the 20th
anniversary of INCITE!’s founding. INCITE!,
a national radical feminist of color organization, was founded in 2000. Over
its two decade history, INCITE! has envisioned, articulated, and promoted what
Angela Y. Davis has described as abolition feminism, a liberatory vision of a
world free from all forms of violence, including those produced by carceral
logics and systems of surveillance, policing, punishment, and exile. Abolition
feminism, and its roots in grassroots anti-violence organizing by women, trans
and gender nonconforming people of color, is particularly relevant in this
moment of heightened attention on movements advocating abolition and resisting
incarceration of our communities–and of backlash rooted in carceral feminism. Speakers include Beth Richie, Mimi Kim,
Nadine Naber, Cara Page, Shana M. Griffin, Angela Y. Davis and MORE! Online Event here. Register here.

Video by Mark Stansbery

Palestine Solidarity Rally

Columbus - 7-26-14

Statement of Veterans For Peace:The Solution to the Nuclear “Crisis” with Iran is not Sanctions and War,